Abstract:

For better use of the resources, 336 oil flax varieties were identified by variation analysis, principal components analysis and cluster analysis. 6 agronomic traits were investigated. Their variations ranged from 13.9% to 39.5%, indicating the diversity of materials was significant and tested materials was promising. Principal components (PC) analysis showed that the first 4 PCs, which might be regarded as grain yield component factor accounting for 81.04% of variation among the materials. These 4 PCs and their contribution rates were fruits per plant (27.68%), stems per plant and plant height factor (20.38%), seeds per fruit factor (17.40%) and yield factor (15.57%). Through cluster analysis, all materials were classified into 4 groups at the level of D =41.925. The variety resources with excellent agronomic traits for high fruit yield were mostly in group Ⅲ and subgroup Ⅰ of group Ⅱ. The variety resources in subgroup Ⅰ of group Ⅰ were excellent for high fibre yield. They were excellent gene resources in breeding.

Key words:  oil flax, variety resources, agronomic traits, principle component analysis, clustering analysis